I can't imagine anyone wanting to be out skiing or snowboarding in this - even if the lifts were open and transportation was operating as normal (which it isn't). While up here we are prepared for serious winter weather, such conditions put even Hokkaido to the test. I highly recommend staying put - and you probably won't have any choice with all lifts starting the day on hold. Soaking in an onsen or just taking it easy for the day. Things should have calmed down by tomorrow.

There is actually some fresh snow to report (9cm, though the snow has been blowing in all directions so who's to know actually how much there has been). And also lots of ice. Everything is iced up. Including the ice.

In the meantime, here's something I prepared yesterday...

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A look back at the season so far: February 2018

It’s time to prepare some toast along with your choice of jam and a cup of coffee or tea and sit down to read my hopefully interesting and surely balanced ramblings about the month of February and the season so far here in Niseko.

And as is the tradition, I would like to remind you that all the numbers from these reports are available at any time on each of the archived Niseko Now report pages. They are linked below with all data relative to the particular report. And don’t forget that big blue ‘Snowfall Analysis’ tab at the top of this page. It’s really cool.

So here we go with February 2018.

Here’s the snowfall that I have measured myself here near the base of Niseko Grand Hirafu over the last six seasons over the month of February:

In the end I observed almost spot on 3m of snowfall. That’s almost double what I observed during February last year (* Epic!) and a fair bit more than each of the three seasons before that too.

I’m pleased to be able to point out that I was able to report fresh snowfall (remember: here at base) in 24 of my 28 reports for the month. The four reports where I was not able to report any snow were all in the first week of the month. In fact, we didn’t see much snowfall at all in that first week of February making us wonder if February might end up being disappointing. Thankfully, that turned out to not be the case.

Because from the second week onwards we got some really good – and regular - snowfall. Yey!

February is of course top peak season and we expect Niseko to be pumping. It has been a very busy month, especially over the Chinese New Year holiday period. A prolonged dry spell around that time is really bad news, so the regular resets this season filling in tracks were just what we needed. Wind did mess around with top lifts on some days, but I don’t feel there was too much of that and I have previously experienced more disruption.

Observed snowfall at base for the season up until the end of February:

So how is the season looking as a whole?

It’s looking good.

17/18 season total up until the end of February 2018: 1198cm16/17 season total up until the end of February 2017: 605cm (about 88% of the season total)15/16 season total up until the end of February 2016: 877cm (about 88% of the season total)14/15 season total up until the end of February 2015: 1002cm (about 88% of the season total)13/14 season total up until the end of February 2014: 1037cm (about 89% of the season total)12/13 season total up until the end of February 2013: 1295cm (about 87% of the season total)

An impressive 12m of snowfall observed at base.

...and almost exactly double what I had observed by the end of February last season (* Bottomless!)

...and already more than the total observed snowfall during the whole season in the most recent four winters.

Interestingly, over the most recent 5 seasons the snowfall that I had observed here at base by the end of February always ended up being around 88% of the total snowfall observed for the whole season. Spooky!

And so, just for the giggles, if we apply that ‘88%’ number to this season we might expect another 160cm or so of snowfall at base this season. Wouldn’t that be nice!

What to expect from the month of March

Here’s how much actual snowfall I have observed in the month of March over the last five winters. The numbers in brackets show the total snowfall observed up until the end of March in each season.

17/18 season total up until the end of February 2017: 947cm16/17 season total up until the end of February 2016: 741cm15/16 season total up until the end of February 2015: 698cm14/15 season total up until the end of February 2014: 825cm13/14 season total up until the end of February 2013: 804cm12/13 season total up until the end of February 2012: 900cm

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And so here we are in March. Already!

There’s still over two months left, but inevitably talk of spring starts to get louder. Spring is often a lot of fun with generally more clearer skies and comfortable temperatures to make up for less fresh snow. March in particular has been known to offer up some surprises and so it’ll be fun to see how the month shapes up in 2018.

I’ll be with you every day of course right through until those last ski lifts finish up for the season on 6th May. Please remember, you are contractually obliged to read each and every one of my reports until then, ok? Arigato!

"West High East Low" winter pressure pattern has set in as the low pressure moved east. Heavy storm conditions at the base, peak and the ocean. The wave height in the Sea of Japan is still small, however this is due to the strong SE swells from yesterday’s wind are moving against the current strong westerly wind. The wave height is forecasted to rise today. Snow conditions at Moiwa peak to Mikaeri area were not possible to observe due to heavy storm. The cat track between Moiwa and Annupuri has not been groomed.

The developing snowdrifts are growing huge and are extremely unstable. The new snow accumulation in leeward slopes is drastic and uneven and can collapse in thick slabs from yesterday’s low-pressure snowfall layer. Today’s avalanche danger is extremely high. Better stay indoors today. The avalanche hazard will persist through to tomorrow after the wind settles down below 10m/s. Better not rush out to the back country too soon after the storm calms down.

Many of the avalanche accidents occur during and just after storms. Be flexible and plan according to the weather. Beware of whiteouts, snowdrifts and oncoming cars on the road to Onsens.

Lifts scheduled to be operating:- Weather conditions affecting all lifts

Official snow depth:- Top: 420cm- Base: 280cm

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Floodlit 'nighta' skiing:

Night skiing is planned for every evening at the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas. There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO area. Ski lifts that are scheduled to be operating for nighta are noted below (subject to change):